Shading device and image display module

ABSTRACT

A shading device comprises: a shading member; a display apparatus disposed on a surface of the shading member in such a manner that a display portion faces to an operator; an image pickup device to pick up, as an image, a region which an opposite surface of the surface faces, and generate image pickup data; and a data processing circuit to generate display image data, based on the image pickup data. An image display module comprises: a display apparatus to be disposed on a surface of a shading device in such a manner that a display portion faces an operator; an image pickup device to pick up, as an image, a region to which an opposite surface of the surface faces, and generate image pickup data; and a data processing circuit to generate display image data, based on the image pickup data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a divisional patent application of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/771,242, having a filing/§ 371(c) date of 24Apr. 2019, which is a U.S. National Stage of PCT/JP2017/015385, filed 14Apr. 2017. Priority is claimed to each patent application set forth inthis Cross-Reference to Related Applications section, and the entiredisclosure of each such patent application is incorporated herein in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a shading device in which, on a displayapparatus equipped on a surface facing an operator, an image of a regionto which an opposite surface of the surface is oriented is displayed.The present invention also relates to an image display module in which,on a display apparatus to be equipped on a surface of a shading devicethat faces an operator during use thereof, an image of a region to whichan opposite surface of the surface is oriented is displayed.

BACKGROUND ART

When being in a room, for example, inside a building, or inside avehicle and sunlight directly comes into sight of a person, the glare oflight can make it difficult to look squarely out the window or theoccurrence of glare can make it difficult to ensure normal visibility.In such a case, a shading device is sometimes used to obstruct sunlightwith a plate-shaped member having a certain size. By disposing a shadingdevice close to a windshield and inside a vehicle compartment, forexample, sunlight illuminating the interior of the vehicle compartmentis obstructed, and the glare is reduced. For a shading device forautomobile, for example, attempts are being made to combine a shadingdevice, which is positioned in front of vehicular driver's eyes when inuse, with another device. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses ashading device provided with a liquid crystal display apparatus as adisplay portion of a television set or a navigation system.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document Patent Document 1: JP H7-234395SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

As described above, by using the shading device, the glare by sunlightcan be reduced. On the other hand, by using the shading device, a partof the field of vision from inside a vehicle compartment or the like isobstructed. Thus, blind spots can be created in the view outside thewindshield that can be visible from inside. In particular, when theshading device for a vehicular driver seat is positioned in a useposition, the blind spots often occur in an upper forward area of avehicular driver. Thus, traffic lights or a road sign positioned abovethe vehicular driver's line of vision does not necessarily come in sightof the vehicular driver and the vehicular driver can overlook thetraffic lights or a road sign.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a shadingdevice and an image display module capable of displaying, for anoperator of the shading device, an image of a view comprising a portionthat is obstructed by the shading device to provide a user with a fieldof vision with fewer blind spots during use of the shading device.

Means to Solve the Problem

A shading device of an embodiment of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising: a shading member, the shading member havinga plate shape; a display apparatus disposed on a surface of the shadingmember, the surface being to face an operator during use of the shadingmember, in such a manner that a display portion faces the operator; animage pickup device to pick up, as an image, a region which an oppositesurface of the surface faces, and generate image pickup data; and a dataprocessing circuit to generate display image data to be displayed on thedisplay portion during use of the shading member, based on the imagepickup data that is generated by the image pickup device.

An image display module of an embodiment of the present invention isalso characterized by comprising: a display apparatus to be disposed ona surface of a shading device, the surface being to face an operatorduring use of the shading device, in such a manner that a displayportion faces the operator; an image pickup device to pick up, as animage, a region to which an opposite surface of the surface faces, andgenerate image pickup data; and a data processing circuit to generatedisplay image data to be displayed on the display portion during use ofthe shading device, based on the image pickup data generated by theimage pickup device.

Effect of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image of a viewcomprising a portion that is obstructed by a shading device can bedisplayed to be facing an operator, and a field of vision with fewerblind spots can be provided for a user even during use of the shadingdevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a shading device according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention in a use position.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a shading member of the shading device anda display apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along a line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A schematically shows an example of a region picked up, as animage, by an image pickup device of the shading device according to thefirst embodiment, together with a blind spot portion of an operator.

FIG. 4B schematically shows another example of a region picked up as animage by an image pickup device of the shading device according to thefirst embodiment, together with a blind spot portion of an operator.

FIG. 5 shows another example of a shape of the shading member in theshading device according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a first detector of the shading deviceaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7A shows an example of a use state of the shading device accordingto the first embodiment.

FIG. 7B shows another example of the use state of the shading deviceaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows an example of another use state of the shading deviceaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a second detector of the shading deviceaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of essential constituent elements of theshading device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11A shows an example of an angle between the shading member of theshading device of the first embodiment and an operator's line of vision.

FIG. 11B shows another example of the angle between the shading memberof the shading device of the first embodiment and the operator's line ofvision.

FIG. 12A shows a display image corrected by a data correction circuit ofthe shading device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12B shows the display image of FIG. 12A in a shape seen in the eyesof the operator.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a blind spot portion of the operator by theshading member of the shading device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a display image corresponding to the blindspot portion of the operator by the shading member of the shading deviceaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 15 conceptually shows an example of data stored in a memory circuitof the shading device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 16A shows an example of an image displayed to be highlighted by theshading device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 16B shows another example of the image displayed to be highlightedby the shading device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of a displayapparatus in the shading device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 18 shows a front view of an example of an image display moduleaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view along a line IXX-IXX of FIG. 18.

EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, an embodiment of a shading device and an image display module ofthe present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.Materials and shapes of, and their relative positions or the like in theembodiment described below are merely illustrative. The shading deviceand the image display module of the present invention are not construedto be limitative thereto. In addition, a shading device of a firstembodiment will be described next by way of example of a vehicularshading device attached near a front windshield. However, the shadingdevice and the image display module of the present invention can be usedin a variety of vehicles such as trains, ships and airplanes and avariety of buildings such as houses and office buildings.

First Embodiment

In FIG. 1, it is shown that a shading device 1 of the first embodimentis disposed in the vehicle compartment of a motor vehicle C and ispositioned in a use position. In the figure, it is also shown that,above a passenger seat of the motor vehicle C, a shading member 20 thatcan constitute a second shading device is present at a non-use position.In FIG. 2, a shading member 2 of the shading device 1 and a displayapparatus 3 are shown, and, in FIG. 3, a sectional view along a lineIII-III of FIG. 2 is shown. In addition, in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, animage pickup region 41 to be picked up, as an image, by an image pickupdevice 4 of the shading device 1 is schematically shown.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4B, the shading device 1 of the embodiment isprovided with: a plate-shaped shading member 2; and a display apparatus3 disposed, while a display portion 3 a is facing an operator of theshading member 2 (that is, in the embodiment, a vehicular driver M), ona surface 2 a facing the vehicular driver M during use of the shadingmember 2. The shading device 1 is further provided with an image pickupdevice 4 that picks up, as an image, a region which an opposite surface2 b of a surface 2 a of the shading member 2 faces, and that generatesimage pickup data. In the following description, the “surface 2 a” ofthe shading member 2 is also referred to as a “first surface 2 a” of theshading member 2. In addition, the opposite surface 2 b of the surface 2a is referred to as a “second surface 2 b” of the shading member 2. Theshading device 1 is further provided with a data processing circuit 5(see FIG. 10) that generates display image data to be displayed on adisplay portion 3 a of the display apparatus 3 during use of the shadingmember 2, based on the image pickup data generated by the image pickupdevice 4. Although not shown, the image pickup device 4 and the dataprocessing circuit 5 are connected to each other in a wired or wirelessmanner so as to enable data transmission and reception. In addition,although, in FIG. 1, the image pickup device 4 is shown beside theshading member 2 for the sake of clarity, as shown in FIG. 4A, thisimage pickup device is preferably disposed at a position in which thevehicular driver M, the shading member 2, and the image pickup device 4are arranged on a generally straight line in the longitudinal directionof the motor vehicle C.

In the following description, the “use” of the shading member 2 meansthat at least a part of the sunlight that can illuminate a region whichthe first surface 2 a faces is obstructed by the shading member 2 bypositioning the shading member 2 in a position in which a second surface2 b is illuminated by sunlight. In addition, the “use state” of theshading member 2 is a state in which the “use” of the shading member 2is made, and “use position” of the shading member 2 is a position inwhich the shading member 2 is in the “use state”.

The shading member 2, in an example shown in FIG. 1, is attached to theceiling portion in the vehicle compartment of the motor vehicle C usinga rod-shaped attaching member F bent in an L-shape. As shown in FIG. 1,on the display portion 3 a of the display apparatus 3, an image in afront region which the second surface 2 b (see FIG. 2) of the shadingmember 2 faces, that is, an image of the outside view over the frontwindshield of the motor vehicle C in the example of FIG. 1, isdisplayed. On the display apparatus 3, traffic lights S1, a road sign S2indicative of “only this way to cruise”, a guidance sign S3 indicativeof an essential landmark, and an auxiliary sign S4 displaying “trafficrestriction time” of the road sign S2 or the like are displayed. InJapan, as road signs, in addition to such a road sign and guidance sign,main signs comprising instructive signs indicative of specificpermissions or instructions and alerting signs indicative of warnings orcautions; and auxiliary signs are set. According to the shading device 1of the embodiment, the view that is obstructed by the shading member 2is displayed on the display apparatus 3, so that the vehicular driver Mcan check these road signs or traffic lights without overlooking themeven against sunlight.

The traffic lights S1 and road sign S2 that are displayed on the displayapparatus 3 in FIG. 1 are essentially present at the positions withinthe field of vision of the vehicular driver M of the motor vehicle C inthe position relationship between the motor vehicle C and the trafficlights S1 or the like in FIG. 1. Nevertheless, the region in which thetraffic lights S1 or another road sign is present is covered with theshading member 2 that is positioned in the use position to obstructsunlight. In the embodiment, however, the region which the secondsurface 2 b of the shading member 2 faces can be picked up, as an image,by the image pickup device 4. In addition, based on the image pickupdata generated by the image pickup device 4, the display image data tobe displayed on the display apparatus 3 is generated by the dataprocessing circuit 5. Consequently, the view to be viewed in the regioncovered with the shading member 2 is displayed, as an image, on thedisplay apparatus 3 provided on the surface 2 a (see FIG. 3) of theshading member 2 facing the vehicular driver M. Therefore, the vehiculardriver M can clearly check letters or the like described on a guidingsign or an auxiliary sign, for example, even against sunlight.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the image pickup device 4 isdisposed in the motor vehicle C so as to pick up, as an image, an imagepickup region 41 including a blind spot portion B obstructed by theshading member 2 of the field of vision of the vehicular driver M. Theregion including the blind spot portion B is picked up, as an image, bythe image pickup device 4 thus disposed, and image pickup data is thengenerated. The display image data based on the image pickup data isgenerated by the data processing circuit 5 (see FIG. 10) and then aresent to the display apparatus 3. Consequently, an image of a viewincluding a region in which the blind spot portion B can be produced canbe displayed on the display apparatus 3 (see FIG. 1) for the vehiculardriver M. The vehicular driver M can visually check, via the displayapparatus 3, the view of the portion that is obstructed by the shadingmember 2. Thus, it is possible to reduce oversight of traffic lights ora road sign by the vehicular driver M under such a sunlight condition asthe shading member 2 is used. It is considered that the shading device 1of the embodiment can contribute to ensuring traffic safety.

In the shading member 20 provided above and in front of the passengerseat in the example shown in FIG. 1 as well, a display apparatus similarto the display apparatus 3 can be provided. That is, a second shadingdevice comprising the shading member 20 and a display apparatus disposedon a surface facing the operator of the shading member 20 (for example,passenger at the passenger seat) during use thereof can be configured.In addition, on the display apparatus constituting the second shadingdevice as well, the view in the region facing the surface opposite thesurface on which the display apparatus in the shading member 20 isdisposed can be displayed. In that case, a second image pickup devicefor the second shading device can be provided, and the second shadingdevice can be provided with the constituent elements which are similarto those of the shading device 1. Therefore, the second shading devicecan have functions similar to those of the shading device 1, which willbe described in further detail below.

In the embodiment, the image pickup device 4 is formed separately fromthe shading member 2, and is disposed inside the motor vehicle C. Theimage pickup device 4, as shown in FIG. 4A, preferably in the vicinityof an upper edge in the front windshield of the motor vehicle C, isdisposed in a position in which the vehicular driver M, the shadingmember 2, and the image pickup device 4 are arranged on a generallystraight line in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle C. Theimage pickup device 4, as shown in FIG. 4B, can also be disposed at acenter in the transverse direction of the front windshield of the motorvehicle C (in the widthwise direction of the motor vehicle C), forexample, toward a back surface of a rearview mirror RM (the surfacefacing the front of the motor vehicle C). As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG.4B, the image pickup device 4, for example, distantly at a moresignificant front position than a front end C1 of the motor vehicle C,is disposed so that the entirety of the blind spot portion B is includedin an image pickup region 41. For example, a camera or the like providedwith a lens having an angle of view capable of bringing such imagepickup region 41 is used as the image pickup device 4. Alternatively,the image pickup device 4 is disposed in a position at an angle suitableto obtain such image pickup region 41. As shown in FIG. 4A, if theshading member 2 and the image pickup device 4 are disposed so that thevehicular driver M, the shading member 2, and the image pickup device 4are arranged on the generally straight line, the blind spot portion Bcan be easily included in the image pickup region 41 even by the imagepickup device 4 provided with a lens having a small angle of view.

The image pickup device 4 is not construed to be limitative to thepositions shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, and can be disposed in anarbitrary position in which it is possible to obtain an appropriateimage pickup region 41. For example, the image pickup device 4 can bedisposed in the vicinity of an edge in the transverse direction of thefront windshield of the motor vehicle C or on a dashboard (not shown).It is preferable that antifouling coating using a photocatalyst effectsuch as titanium oxide be applied to at least a surface facing theoutside of the vehicle of a portion facing the image pickup device 4 ofthe front windshield. The image pickup device 4 can also be disposed onthe second surface 2 b of the shading member 2. As described later,however, the shading member 2 can be used at an arbitrary position(angle) and thus it is preferable that the image pickup device 4 bedisposed to be supported by an object other than the shading member 2 interms of securing a stable image pickup region 41.

The image pickup device 4 is not construed to be limitative inparticular as long as it is possible to pick up, as an image, a view ofa desired image pickup region and then generate image pickup data in aformat that can be processed by the data processing circuit 5. As theimage pickup device 4, for example, a digital camera or the like havinga CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor is exemplified. For eachmicroarea, the optical energy based on a view in an image pickup regionis converted to electrical signals by light receiving elements disposedin a matrix inside the CCD image sensor or the like, and the imagepickup data based on these electrical signals is generated. Preferably,a camera or the like having an image sensor capable of color imaging isused as the image pickup device 4.

In FIG. 4A, in a circle Z indicated by a dashed line, the image pickupdevice 4 is schematically shown in an enlarged manner. The image pickupdevice 4 of the shading device 1 of the embodiment is provided with alens 4 b having a surface on which a coating layer 4 a to reducereflection of light by adjusting a refractive index is formed. The imagepickup device 4 picks up, as an image, a view of a region which thesecond surface 2 b illuminated by sunlight during use of the shadingmember 2 faces. Therefore, the image pickup device 4 requires imagepickup against sunlight. The coating layer 4 a is thus provided in thelens 4 b of the image pickup device 4. Owing to the coating layer 4 a,an occurrence of flare or ghosting, which is likely to occur in imagepickup against sunlight, can be suppressed. The coating layer 4 a can beformed by forming a number of nano-sized, wedge-shaped structures on asurface of the lens 4 b or forming a layer of nano-sized particulates onthe surface of the lens 4 b. The image pickup device 4 does not alwaysneed to be provided with the lens having the coating layer 4 a.

Again, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the shading member 2 and thedisplay apparatus 3 will be described in further detail. The shadingmember 2 is formed in a plate-like shape, and has a substantiallyrectangular shape as a whole in the first surface 2 a and the secondsurface 2 b. In the vicinity of one end edge 2 d 1 of two end edges 2 d1, 2 d 2 that are substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction inthe shading member 2, an insertion hole 2 c for engaging with a rod-likeattaching member F is provided along the end edge 2 d 1. The shadingmember 2 is attached to the motor vehicle C via the attaching member Fso that, during use of the shading member 2, the end edge 2 d 1 ispresent at an upper end thereof.

In addition, in the embodiment, the shading member 2 comprises curvedsurface portions 2 e 1, 2 e 2 in the vicinity of two end edges 2 d 1, 2d 2, respectively. That is, during use of the shading member 2, theshading member 2 comprises the curved surface portions 2 e 1, 2 e 2 atan edge facing an upper end thereof and at an edge facing a lower endthereof. The first surface 2 a of the shading member 2 is a curvedsurface curving in a convex shape toward each of the end edges 2 d 1, 2d 2 in the curved surface portions 2 e 1, 2 e 2. It is preferable that acurvature radius (R1) of each of the curved surface portions 2 e 1, 2 e2 be 5 mm or more and 20 mm or less. In addition, in place of the one inwhich only the end edge curves, as described later, the shading member 2can have a curved surface as a whole in the first surface 2 a (see FIG.5). The shading member 2 does not always need to have the curved surfaceportions 2 e 1, 2 e 2. Further, during use of the shading member 2, thisshading member can be provided with a curved surface portion only at anedge facing an upper end thereof or an edge facing a lower end thereof.The shading member 2 is formed using a synthetic resin such as urethane,for example. However, any material for the shading member 2 suffices aslong as it is possible to obstruct transmission of light even if theamount of light obstructed is small, and the material for the shadingmember 2 is not construed to be limitative to the synthetic resin.Further, the shape of the shading member 2 is not construed to belimitative to the rectangular shape as a whole, and the shading member 2can have an arbitrary shape.

The second surface 2 b of the shading member 2 is exposed to sunlightduring use of the shading member 2. On the first surface 2 a of theshading member 2, the display apparatus 3 is disposed. In an electronicapparatus used as the display apparatus 3, in particular, in an organicEL display panel or the like which is preferably used as the displayapparatus 3 of the shading device 1 of the embodiment, which will bedescribed later, luminance decreases with a temperature increase, andfurther, decreasing of luminance over time can advance with thetemperature increase. Therefore, it is preferable that appropriatemeasures to reflect the infrared ray included in sunlight be taken forthe second surface 2 b of the shading member 2. In addition, in a casewhere the shading member 2 is formed using a synthetic resin or thelike, the shading member 2 is used less often while the material isexposed, and additional ornamentation is applied to the surface of theshading member 2. In the embodiment in particular, it is preferable thatat least ornamentation be applied to the second surface 2 b that is asurface on which the display apparatus 3 in the shading member 2 is notdisposed. From these points of view, it is preferable that at least thesecond surface 2 b of the shading member 2 be provided with aninfrared-ray reflective member 21, which is capable of reflectinginfrared-ray as shown in FIG. 3. Further, it is further preferable thatthe infrared-ray reflective member 21 include a material havingornamentation property such as natural or synthetic leather, or clothmade of pile fabric such as moquette.

As the infrared-ray reflection member 21, a coating film formed byinfrared-ray reflective paint including a pigment having a highreflection index relative to infrared-ray is exemplified. Suchinfrared-ray reflective paint can also comprise hollow beads made oftitanium oxide or ceramics having absorbency of infrared-ray andproperty of randomly reflecting infrared-ray. Such infrared-rayreflective paint is applied to at least the second surface 2 b of theshading member 2, and the infrared-ray reflective member 21 can bethereby provided. In addition, such infrared-ray reflective paint isapplied to natural or synthetic leather or cloth made of pile fabric,and the infrared-ray refection member 21 comprising a leather materialor cloth is thereby formed, and the infrared-ray reflective member 21can be attached to the surface of the shading member 2. Further, in acase where the surface of the shading member 2 is ornamented with amaterial comprising cloth, the cloth can be kneaded with beads such asceramics. The cloth can be cloth woven with ceramics-woven yarn or canbe cloth woven with yarn having a star-shaped or cross-shapedcross-sectional shape, which is suitable for randomly reflectinginfrared-ray.

The display apparatus 3 causes the display portion 3 a to display animage based on the display image data generated by the data processingcircuit 5 (see FIG. 10). Although the display apparatus 3 is notconstrued to be limitative in particular as long as it has such afunction and can be disposed on the surface 2 a of the shading member 2,it is preferable that the display apparatus 3 be an organic EL displaypanel or a liquid crystal display panel that can have a thin shape. Inan example shown in FIG. 2, the display apparatus 3 is provided acrossthe entire first surface 2 a other than a proximal portion of two shortedges of the shading member 2. In addition, almost all of the surfacesexposed to the first surface 2 a of the shading member 2 in the displayapparatus 3 constitute the display portion 3 a.

In the embodiment, the display apparatus 3 is formed along the curvedsurfaces of the curved surface portions 2 e 1, 2 e 2 of the shadingmember 2 in the two curved surface portions 2 e 1, 2 e 2 of the shadingmember 2, respectively. The curvature radius (R1) of each of the curvedsurface portions 2 e 1, 2 e 2 is 10 mm, for example. The displayapparatus 3 is thus formed along the curved surface portions 2 e 1, 2 e2, so that, in a case where a vehicular driver sees the displayapparatus 3 in an oblique direction relative to the first surface 2 a ofthe shading member 2, the vehicular driver can secure good visibility incomparison with a case in which the display apparatus 3 is not formedalong the curved surfaces of the curved surface portions 2 e 1, 2 e 2.The first surface 2 a of the shading member 2, unlike the shape shown inFIG. 3, can be curved across the entire surface as shown in FIG. 5. Thecurvature radius (R2) of the first surface 2 a in this case ispreferably 50 mm or more and 250 mm or less, and R2=150 mm, for example.At the first surface 2 a that is thus curved across the entire surfaceas well, relatively good visibility is secured when the vehicular driverM sees the display apparatus 3 in an oblique direction. An advantagethat the shading member 2 comprises a curved surface portion will bedescribed later in detail.

The shading device 1 of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, can beprovided with a detector (first detector 6) that detects a position ofthe shading member 2. The first detector 6 detects at least the positionof the shading member 2 so as to identify a use position and a non-useposition of the shading member 2. Also, the first detector 6 preferablydetects the position of the shading member 2 by detecting an angle ofthe first surface 2 a of the shading member 2 (for example, an anglerelative to the line of vision of the vehicular driver M).

In FIG. 6, as an example of the first detector 6, an angle sensor 6 b isshown. In an example of FIG. 6, the angle sensor 6 b is a rotation angledetection sensor using a rotary potentiometer. The angle sensor 6 b ofFIG. 6 comprises: a movable portion 6 b 1 attached together with theshading member 2 and rotating about the attaching member F; and astationary portion 6 b 2 fixed to the attaching member F, and isdisposed around the insertion hole 2 c into which the attaching member Fis to be inserted. The angle sensor 6 b detects an angle of the shadingmember 2, that is, a position in the rotating direction, by detecting apositional difference in a circumferential direction about the attachingmember F between the stationary portion 6 b 2 and the movable portion 6b 1 rotating together with the shading member 2.

In examples shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the shading member 2 isprovided with a magnetic sensor 6 a as a first detector 6 in thevicinity of an end edge 2 d 2 opposite an end edge 2 d 1 at which theinsertion hole 2 c (see FIG. 3) is provided at the vicinity thereof. InFIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, an example of the use position of the shadingmember 2 as a side view of the vehicular driver M is shown. The shadingmember 2 is linked to the attaching member F in a rotatable manner. Theshading member 2 is rotated about the attaching member F, and is therebypositioned from a non-use position P0 which is a non-use position to ause position P1 in FIG. 7A or a use position P2 in FIG. 7B.

In addition, when the shading member 2 is present at the non-useposition P0, a magnet 61 is disposed at a position proximal to amagnetic sensor 6 a. Further, when the shading member 2 is present atthe farthest position rotated from the non-use position P0 about theattaching member F (use position P2 in FIG. 7B in the examples of FIG.7A and FIG. 7B), a magnet 62 is disposed at a position proximal to themagnetic sensor 6 a. The magnets 61, 62 can be disposed on a surface ofthe ceiling interiors or the back thereof, or on a surface of or insidea pillar C2.

The magnets 61, 62 are disposed while a same magnetic pole (N-pole orS-pole) is facing the magnetic sensor 6 a, for example. The magneticsensor 6 a moves in a magnetic field produced by the magnet 61 and themagnet 62 concurrently with rotating of the shading member 2. Themagnetic sensor 6 a detects the orientation and intensity of themagnetic field in its own position, and electrically outputs a result ofthe detection, for example. The magnetic sensor 6 a and the magnets 61,62 are used to be thereby enable that whether the shading member 2 ispresent at the non-use position P0 or at a given use position, forexample, at the use position P2, to be detected. The magnetic sensor 6 acan be configured with a Hall element or merely with a magnetic coil orthe like, for example. It suffices that the first detector 6 be capableof detecting a position of the shading member 2 without being construedto be limitative to the example shown. For example, a magnet can bedisposed at the position of the magnetic sensor 6 a in FIG. 7A and FIG.7B or a magnetic sensor can be provided as the first detector 6 in eachof the positions of the magnets 61, 62. Either one only of the magnets61, 62 can also be disposed.

In a case where the first detector 6 is provided, the shading device 1is preferably provided with a control circuit 7 (see FIG. 10) connectedto the first detector 6. The control circuit 7 determines at leastwhether the shading member 2 is present at a use position based on aresult of detection of the first detector 6. Then, based on thedetermination, this circuit controls the ON/OFF state of the displayapparatus 3. For example, if the result of detection of the firstdetector 6 shows that the shading member 2 is present at a positionfarther away from the non-use position P0 than a given position, thecontrol circuit 7 determines that the shading member 2 is present at ause position. Then, in a case where the display apparatus 3 is presentin the OFF state at that time, the control circuit 7 controls thedisplay apparatus 3 to turn to the ON state, and causes the displayportion 3 a to display an image. Alternatively, if the result ofdetection of the detector 6 shows that the shading member 2 is nearer tothe non-use position P0 than to the given position, the control circuit7 determines that the shading member 2 is present at the non-useposition. Subsequently, in a case where the display apparatus 3 ispresent in the ON state, the control circuit 7 controls the displayapparatus 3 to turn to the OFF state, and image display on the displayportion 3 a can be stopped. The shading device 1 comprises such aconfiguration, whereby the vehicular driver M can cause the displayapparatus 3 to display an image or stop the display merely by operatingthe shading member 2. The first detector 6 is not construed to belimitative to the magnetic sensor 6 a or the angle sensor 6 b, and canbe an arbitrary detector such as a gravity sensor capable of detectingan event which varies based on the position (angle) of the shadingmember 2. The first detector 6 does not have to be provided. That is,ON/OFF control of the display apparatus 3 can be performed by theoperator of the shading member 2.

Referring to FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, an advantage that the shading member 2comprises a curved surface portion will be described below. In a casewhere the shading member 2 is present at the use position P1, it followsthat the vehicular driver M sees the display apparatus 3 in an obliquedirection relative to the first surface 2 a of the shading member 2. Inthat case, the shading member 2 does not have the curved surface portion2 e 2 and consequently if there is no portion of the display apparatus 3along the curved surface of the curved surface portion 2 e 2, thevehicular driver M can see only a portion of the display apparatus 3facing an oblique direction relative to the vehicular driver M. However,the shading member 2 of the embodiment comprises the curved surfaceportion 2 e 2, and the display apparatus 3 is formed along the curvedsurface of the curved surface portion 2 e 2. Thus, the vehicular driverM can see an image displayed in a region including a portionperpendicular to the line of vision of the vehicular driver M even inthe vicinity of the end edge 2 d 2. In comparison with a case in whichthe curved surface portion 2 e 2 is absent, the visibility relative tothe display apparatus 3 of the vehicular driver M is higher.

In addition, in a case where the shading member 2 is present at the useposition P2 as well, it follows that the vehicular driver M sees thedisplay apparatus 3 in an oblique direction relative to a normal line ofthe first surface 2 a of the shading member 2. In the embodiment, theshading member 2 comprises the curved surface portion 2 e 1, and thedisplay apparatus 3 is formed along the curved surface of the curvedsurface portion 2 e 1 and, thus, in the vicinity of the end edge 2 d 1as well, the vehicular driver M can see the image displayed in theregion including the portion perpendicular to the line of vision of thevehicular driver M. In comparison with a case in which the curvedsurface portion 2 e 1 is absent, the visibility relative to the displayapparatus 3 of the vehicular driver M is higher.

Thus, the shading member 2 comprises the curved surface portions 2 e 1,2 e 2, and the display apparatus 3 is formed along the respective curvedsurfaces of the curved surface portions 2 e 1, 2 e 2, and goodvisibility of the vehicular driver M is secured. Specifically, it isconsidered that a curved surface portion (curved surface portion 2 e 1or curved surface portion 2 e 2) on an end surface closer to thevehicular driver M of the end edges 2 d 1, 2 d 2 mainly contributes tosecuring the visibility of the vehicular driver M. The vehicular driverM is prone to carelessly operate the shading surface 2 a. Therefore, theshading member 2 is used at an arbitrary position in a state in whichthe first surface 2 s is inclined relative to the vehicular driver M. Itis preferable that the shading member 2 have at least curved surfaceportions such as the curved surface portion 2 e 1 and curved surfaceportion 2 e 2 in the vicinity of either one of the end edge 2 d 1 andthe end edge 2 d 2. An advantageous effect of improvement in visibilityas described previously can be achieved. It is further preferable thatthe shading member 2 have curved surface portions such as the curvedsurface portion 2 e 1 and the curved surface portion 2 e 2 in thevicinity of each of the end edge 2 d 1 and the end edge 2 d 2. Further,although the display apparatus 3 can be a liquid crystal display panelas described previously, an organic EL display panel capable of havingmore flexibility than the liquid crystal display panel is preferable asthe display apparatus 3. An organic EL display panel formed using aflexible film having a surface on which an organic material has beenlaminated is preferable as the display apparatus 3 in particular.

The shading member 2 can be attached to the motor vehicle C so as to beable to obstruct sunlight illuminating the vehicular driver's sidewindshield on the vehicular driver's side door as well. That is, asshown in FIG. 8, this shading member can be attached to the motorvehicle C on the ceiling portion of the vehicle compartment via theattaching member F that is rotatably attached thereto. In order to dealwith the use mode as shown in FIG. 8, the shading device 1 can beprovided with an additional detector (a third detector 9) that detectsthe position of the shading member 2. The third detector 9 detects theposition of the shading member 2 in a direction different from adirection of a position change of the shading member 2 that the firstdetector 6 (see FIG. 6) can detect. In FIG. 8, a magnetic sensor 9 a isexemplified as the third detector 9.

The magnetic sensor 9 a is disposed in the vicinity of an end in aradial direction in rotating of the attaching member F in the shadingmember 2. In addition, a magnet 91 is disposed at a position proximal tothe magnetic sensor 9 a when the shading member 2 is moved by rotatingof the attaching member F so as to cover a portion of the vehiculardriver's side windshield on the vehicular driver's side door. The magnet91 can be disposed on a surface of the ceiling interiors or a surface ofthe interiors at an upper portion of the side door frame, or on the backthereof, for example.

The magnetic sensor 9 a functions similarly to the magnetic sensor 6 adescribed previously. That is, the magnetic sensor 9 a detects aposition in the rotating direction of the attaching member F withrespect to the shading member 2, based on the intensity of the magneticfield produced by the magnet 91. Then, the control circuit 7 (see FIG.10) determines, based on a result of detection of the third detector 9,which of the front windshield and the side windshield the shading member2 is used for. For example, if the result of detection of the thirddetector 9 shows that the shading member 2 is closer to the sidewindshield than a given position, the control circuit 7 determines thatthe shading member 2 is used for the side windshield. In addition, in acase where the display apparatus 3 is present at the ON state at thattime, the control circuit 7 controls the display apparatus 3 to turn tothe OFF state, and stops image display. In this case, the controlcircuit 7 can control the display apparatus 3 to turn to the OFF statebased on only the result of detection of the third detector 9irrespective of the result of detection of the first detector 6described previously.

The shading device 1 of the embodiment can also be provided with asecond display apparatus 39 on a surface 2 ab of the shading member 2that faces an operator (vehicular driver) in a use position as shown inFIG. 8, and can be further provided with a second image pickup device 42that picks up, as an image, a region which a surface opposite thesurface 2 ab of the shading member 2 faces, and that generates imagepickup data. In addition, when the third detector 9 detects thatrotating about a shaft (rotating shaft of the attaching member F)different from a rotating shaft of the shading member 2 along the frontwindshield has been performed, the second display apparatus 39 can becontrolled to turn to the ON state, causing a display portion of thedisplay apparatus 39 to display an image based on the image pickup datagenerated by the second image pickup device 42. It is possible to causethe vehicular driver to visually recognize a view of a blind spotportion that can be produced in the use position of the shading member 2shown in FIG. 8. In this case also, the control circuit 7 can controlthe second display apparatus 39 to turn to the ON state, or can controlthe display apparatus 3 to turn to the OFF state, the display apparatusbeing disposed on a surface facing the side windshield in the shadingmember 2.

The second display apparatus 39 is exposed to sunlight when the shadingmember 2 is used for the front windshield. Thus, it is preferable thatan infrared-ray reflective layer or an infrared-ray absorbent layerformed of a transparent material be formed on a surface (display screen)of the second display apparatus 39. By using such a configuration,deterioration of the second display apparatus 39 that is caused by heatcan be suppressed. The infrared-ray reflective layer is formed usingantimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) or tin-doped indium (ITO), for example. Avehicle comprising ATO or ITO nano-particle dispersant is applied to asurface of the display apparatus 39, for example, and the infrared-rayreflective layer can be thereby formed. Although the particle size ofthe nano-particle dispersant is not construed to be limitative inparticular, the size is preferably 20 nm or more and 50 nm or less. Theinfrared-ray absorbent layer can also be formed using nano-particledispersant of cesium-oxide tungsten, for example. In addition, it isfurther preferable that the infrared-ray reflective layer and theinfrared-ray absorbent layer have an ultraviolet absorption function.Even in a case where the second display apparatus 39 comprises anorganic material which is easily influenced by ultraviolet-ray, imagedeterioration can be prevented.

Thus, the control circuit 7 can control the ON/OFF state of the displayapparatus 3 based on the result of detection of the third detector 9 aswell as the first detector 6. Unnecessary image display directed outwardfrom the motor vehicle C can be prevented. The third detector 9 can bean angle sensor disposed at an engaging portion between the attachingmember F and the ceiling portion, like those exemplified in FIG. 6 withrespect to the first detector 6. In addition, only the third detector 9can be provided in place of providing the first detector 6.

The shading device 1 of the embodiment can be further provided with adetector (second detector 8) that detects positions of the eyes of thevehicular driver M. The second detector 8, as shown in FIG. 9, iscomposed of eye detection cameras 8 a, 8 b respectively installed in twoknown positions and an analyzing device (not shown) that analyzesacquired images of the eye detection cameras 8 a, 8 b, for example. Theeye detection cameras 8 a, 8 b are provided with a far infrared-raysensor, and generate temperature data of each portion in an image pickupregion. Eyeballs of an ordinary person are characterized in that theyhave a lower temperature than any other portion in the face. Theanalyzing device (not shown) specifies a facial position and positionsof the eyes of the vehicular driver M in the acquired images by the eyedetection cameras 8 a, 8 b, based on the temperature data generated bythe eye detection cameras 8 a, 8 b. A general digital camera is used asthe eye detection camera 8 a, 8 b, and the positions of the eyes can bespecified by image recognition in the analyzing device (not shown).

The positions of the eyes of the vehicular driver M in the acquiredimages of the eye detection cameras 8 a, 8 b are specified, and anglesθ1, θ2 formed between a straight line L1 connecting the two eyedetection cameras 8 a, 8 b in the known positions and a straight lineconnecting the respective eye detection cameras 8 a, 8 b and the eyes ofthe vehicular driver M are thereby specified. Then, based on the lengthof the straight line L1, and the angles θ1, θ2, the positions of theeyes of the vehicular driver M relative to the eye detection cameras 8a, 8 b are specified using trigonometry. Only the position of either oneof both eyes of the vehicular driver M can be specified, or thepositions of the both eyes can be respectively specified. In a casewhere the positions of the both eyes are specified, for example, aposition of a midpoint of the line connecting the both eyes iscalculated, and the position of the midpoint is handled as the positionsof the eyes of the vehicular driver M. Also, in a case where either oneeye is used preferentially for driving (such as a case where the othereye of the vehicular driver M is damaged or a case where an attempt ismade to visually recognize an image with a dominant eye, for example),it is preferable that the shading device 1 of the embodiment have anauxiliary unit that switches from a setting based on the both eyes to asetting based on one eye, and that specifies which of the right eye andthe left eye is used, and information input to the auxiliary unit isused for data processing by a display target data selection circuit 53.A method of utilizing the result of detection of the second detector 8will be described later.

In FIG. 10, the essential constituent elements of the shading device 1of the embodiment are shown in a block diagram. The image pickup datagenerated by the image pickup device 4 is sent to the data processingcircuit 5. The display image data generated based on the image pickupdata by the data processing circuit 5 is sent to the display apparatus3, and the image based on the display image data is displayed on thedisplay portion 3 a of the display apparatus 3. The first detector 6 andthe third detector 9 described previously are connected to the controlcircuit 7. The first detector 6 is connected to the data processingcircuit 5 as well, together with the second detector 8. Although in FIG.10 the second display apparatus 39 and the second image pickup device 42(see FIG. 8) are not shown, the second display apparatus 39, like thedisplay apparatus 3, can be connected to the data processing circuit 5and the control circuit 7, and the second image device 42, like theimage pickup device 4, can be connected to the data processing circuit5.

The control circuit 7 is connected to the display apparatus 3 so as tocontrol the ON/OFF state of the display apparatus 3 based on a result ofdetection of the first and/or third detectors 6, 9. The control circuit7 can be configured with a combination of a comparator or some gateelements, for example. The control circuit 7 can also be composed of aportion of a microcomputer or a gate array, and can be comprised in thedata processing circuit 5. FIG. 10 is merely provided as an example of aconfiguration of the shading device 1 in the embodiment, and the shadingdevice 1 does not necessarily have to comprise all of the constituentelements shown in FIG. 10 or can further comprise a constituent elementnot shown in FIG. 10. In addition, an internal configuration of the dataprocessing circuit 5 is not construed to be limitative to those shown inFIG. 10.

The data processing circuit 5 constitutes circuit blocks having theirown functions. This circuit comprises a data generation circuit 50, anangle identification circuit 51, a data correction circuit 52, a displaytarget data selection circuit 53, a memory circuit 54, a comparisoncircuit 55, and a display image highlighting circuit 56. The displaytarget data selection circuit 53 is provided with a memory circuit 53 a.These circuit blocks can partially or entirely share a same circuitelement. The data processing circuit 5 can be formed of a microcomputeror an ASIC, or an arbitrary semiconductor device for signal processing,such as FPGA, and its peripheral circuits. The microcomputer or the likeoperates in accordance with the software that defines given processingprocedures. Each circuit block in the data processing circuit 5 can beindividually formed using a semiconductor integrated circuit device ordiscrete semiconductor elements.

The data generation circuit 50 is a circuit block responsible forperforming basic functions of the data processing circuit 5, andgenerates, based on image pickup data, as display image data, a drivesignal including information related to light emission intensity andlight emission timing for each pixel of the display apparatus 3. Thedata generation circuit 50 is used to generate a drive signal of anorganic EL display panel or the like, for example, and can be aso-called timing controller and its peripheral circuits that operate inaccordance with the software that defines given processing procedures.

Referring to FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B, functions of the angleidentification circuit 51 and the data correction circuit 52 will bedescribed below. The angle identification circuit 51 identifies an angleθA of the surface (first surface) 2 a of the shading member 2 relativeto the line of vision of the vehicular driver M facing the shadingmember 2, based on a result of detection of the first detector 6 and aresult of detection of the second detector 8. As described previously,the first detector 6 can detect the position in the rotating directionof the shading member 2. Therefore, a position relationship between theshading member 2 and two eye detection cameras 8 a, 8 b that are presentat the known positions can be specified from the result of detection ofthe first detector 6 as well. The second detector 8 can also detect thepositions of the eyes of the vehicular driver M relative to the eyedetection cameras 8 a, 8 b (see FIG. 9). Hence, the positions of theeyes of the vehicular driver M relative to the shading member 2 arespecified as well, and consequently, the direction of the eyes I of thevehicular driver M seeing the shading member 2 can be specified. Thatis, based on the result of detection of the first detector 6 and theresult of detection of the second detector 8, the angle θA of the firstsurface 2 a of the shading member 2 can be specified relative to theline of vision I of the vehicular driver M facing the shading member 2.The angle identification circuit 51 operates in accordance with thesoftware or the like including the procedures for specifying the angleθA in this manner, for example.

The data correction circuit 52 corrects image pickup data based on adifference Δθ in an angle θA relative to a given reference angle (next,a description will be given assuming that the reference angle is 90degrees). As shown in FIG. 11A, in a case where the angle θA is 90degrees (the angle Δθ is zero and the first surface 2 a of the shadingmember 2 and the line of vision I are orthogonal to each other), asexemplified in the left-side view in FIG. 11A, an image of trafficlights S1 displayed on the display apparatus 3 is grasped by the eyes ofthe vehicular driver in a generally proper manner. However, as shown inFIG. 11B, in a case where the angle θA is an angle other than 90degrees, as shown in the left-side view in FIG. 11B, the image of thetraffic lights S1 is grasped by the eyes of the vehicular driver M in ashape in which the image is reduced and distorted in the verticaldirection. The data correction circuit 52 corrects image pickup data sothat the image displayed on the display apparatus 3 can be properlygrasped by the eyes of the vehicular driver M even in the state as shownin FIG. 11B, based on the difference Δθ between the given referenceangle and the angle θA.

For example, the data correction circuit 52 replaces, with data of apixel one up from a center pixel, data of a pixel two up from the centerpixel in the vertical direction of a region displayed on the displayapparatus 3 of image pickup data. Data of a pixel three up from thecenter pixel and data of a pixel four up therefrom are also replacedwith data of a pixel two up from the center pixel (data before beingreplaced as described previously). The data correction circuit 52performs such data correction relative to the image pickup datacorresponding to the region displayed on the display apparatus 3. Byperforming such correction, the image displayed on the display apparatus3 can be enlarged to twice in the vertical direction. The magnificationfor enlarging the display image in the vertical direction is selectedbased on the difference Δθ in the angle θA relative to the givenreference angle. For example, the display image is enlarged in thevertical direction at a higher magnification, as the angle θA of thefirst surface 2 a of the shading member 2 relative to the line of visionof the vehicular driver M departs from 90 degrees.

The data processing circuit 5 generates display image data in the datageneration circuit 50 based on image pickup data corrected by the datacorrection circuit 52. By doing so, for example, on the actual displayapparatus 3, the image enlarged in the vertical direction is displayedas shown in FIG. 12A. As shown in FIG. 12B, however, this enlarged imagecan be grasped by the vehicular driver as an image of which shape isclose to a shape of an essential display target (traffic lights S1 inFIG. 12B). It is considered to be easy for the vehicular driver torecognize a display target. The data correction circuit 52 can performcorrection relative to the display image data generated by the datageneration circuit 50.

Next, referring to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, functions of the display targetdata selection circuit 53 (see FIG. 10) will be described. As shown inFIG. 13, the positions of the eyes of the vehicular driver M moveaccording to a change or the like of the vehicular driver's posture.Therefore, in the field of vision of the vehicular driver M, a blindspot portion produced by the shading member 2 can also change any time.It is considered to be preferable to cause the display apparatus 3 todisplay only the view of the blind spot portion in light of the factthat the image is grasped by the eyes of the vehicular driver M withouthaving an unnatural feeling.

As shown in FIG. 13, if the reference position PR of the shading member2 and the reference position PI of the eyes of the vehicular driver Mare assumed, based on these and the size of the shading member 2, theblind spot portion (reference blind spot portion BR) in the image pickupregion of the image pickup device 4 is defined. The image pickup regionis fixedly defined by the position or characteristics of the imagepickup device 4. If the positions of the shading member 2 and the eyesof the vehicular driver M are fixed, only the view of the blind spotportion in the image pickup data is always displayed on the displayapparatus 3 by defining, as a display target region, a region (referencedisplay target region) corresponding to the reference blind spot portionBR. However, the positions of the shading member 2 and the eyes of thevehicular driver M move, and the blind spot portion thereby varies.Thus, it is preferable to change the display target region according tothe variation of the blind spot portion. The display target dataselection circuit 53, for the sake of such display, determines the blindspot portion obstructed by the shading member 2 in the field of visionof the operator of the shading member 2 (vehicular driver M in theembodiment) and then selects the display target data among the imagepickup data, the selected display target data corresponding to the blindspot portion.

The first detector 6 and the second detector 8 are connected to thedisplay target data selection circuit 53 (see FIG. 10). Therefore,information about the position of the shading member 2 and the positionsof the eyes of the vehicular driver M is input to the display targetdata selection circuit 53. The display target data selection circuit 53is also provided with a memory circuit 53 a (see FIG. 10). In the memorycircuit 53 a, information related to a difference between a blind spotportion BA produced by being obstructed by the shading member 2 and thereference blind spot portion BR is stored for each of a variety ofpositions and/or angles of the shading member 2 and the positions of theeyes of the vehicular driver M. In FIG. 13, as an example, the blindspot portion BA when the eyes of the vehicular driver M are present atthe position PA is shown. For example, in the memory circuit 53 a, themovement quantity in the vertical direction and the transverse directionrelative to the reference blind spot portion BR and an enlargement rateor a reduction rate or the like, which are required to obtain a positionof the actual blind spot portion BA, are stored. The display target dataselection circuit 53 specifies the position of the actual blind spotportion BA by way of numeric calculation or the like, based on theinformation about the position of the shading member 2 and the positionsof the eyes of the vehicular driver M from the first and seconddetectors 6, 8 and on the storage contents of the memory circuit 53 a.The display target data selection circuit 53 then selects the data ofthe region among the image pickup data, the selected data correspondingto the actual blind spot portion BA as the display target data to be adisplay target.

Then, the data generation circuit 50 generates display image data basedon the selected display target data so as to cause the display apparatus3 to display the view of the actual blind spot portion BA. Consequently,as shown in FIG. 14, an image of the display target region DA to beactually displayed, which has been changed for the reference displaytarget region DR corresponding to the reference blind spot portion(which has been shifted upward in an example of FIG. 14) of the imagepickup region 41 is displayed on the display apparatus 3. An image withless unnatural feeling in comparison with the view over the frontwindshield can be displayed on the display apparatus 3.

The display target data selection circuit 53 can have a function ofcancelling fine shaking of image display caused by a slight relativemotion of the vehicular driver M relative to a vehicle body. Forexample, the display target data selection circuit 53 can be configuredto increase the period of sampling information from the second detector8, in a case where the information from the second detector 8 (see FIG.10) varies frequently at a given level or more. The display target dataselection circuit 53 can also be configured so as not to newly start aselection operation of display target data, in a case where a positionchange of the eyes of the vehicular driver M fails to meet a givencondition. In addition, a low pass filter can be provided at an inputportion that receives information from the second detector 8 in thedisplay target data selection circuit 53.

Next, referring to FIGS. 15, 16A, and 16B, functions of the displayimage highlighting circuit 56, the comparison circuit 55, and the memorycircuit 54 (see FIG. 10) will be described.

The memory circuit 54 stores reference data related to appearancefeatures of a given target that can be picked up, as an image, by theimage pickup device 4 (seer FIG. 1). In FIG. 15, an example of referencedata 54 a, 54 b that are stored in the memory circuit 54 is conceptuallyshown as an image that can be reconstructed by the reference data 54 a,54 b. That is, as shown in FIG. 15, in the memory circuit 54, theappearance features of objects such as traffic lights S1 and road signS2 that are likely to be shot by the image pickup device 4 are stored asdata. For example, in the memory circuit 54, image pickup data generatedby actually shooting the traffic lights S1 by the image pickup device 4is stored. Alternatively, the shape of the traffic lights S1 or the likeis modeled using unit elements such as microtriangles and the referencedata 54 a, 54 b can be formed of the vertex coordinate of the respectiveunit elements. The reference data can be formed in an arbitrary method.The memory circuit 54, although not construed to be limitative inparticular, is composed of an arbitrary semiconductor storage devicesuch as an SRAM or a PROM, for example. A same storage device can beshared between this memory circuit and the memory circuit 53 a of thedisplay target data selection circuit 53 described previously.

The comparison circuit 55 compares the image pickup data generated bythe image pickup device 4 and the reference data 54 a, 54 b that arestored in the memory circuit 54. The comparison circuit 55 canreconstruct the image pickup data and the reference data 54 a, 54 b asan image and then compare these items of data by a pattern recognitiontechnique. Also, if the data formats of the image pickup data and thereference data 54 a, 54 b are the same as each other, both of the datacan be sequentially compared with each other as actual data in bits orbytes. A method of comparison to be performed by the comparison circuit55 is not construed to be limitative in particular. The comparisoncircuit 55 detects approximate image pickup data in a case where thereis approximate image pickup data approximating either of the referencedata 54 a, 54 b such that given criteria are met by comparison betweenthe image pickup data and the reference data 54 a, 54 b.

The display image highlighting circuit 56, in a case where approximateimage pickup data has been detected as a result of comparison of thecomparison circuit 55, causes the display apparatus 3 to display adisplay image of a given target that is displayed based on theapproximate image pickup data so as to be highlighted more significantlythan any other display image. Specifically, the display imagehighlighting circuit 56 processes the display image data that isgenerated based on the approximate image pickup data, of the displayimage data generated by the data generation circuit 50 (see FIG. 10).

For example, the display image highlighting circuit 56 processes data ofpixels around an image S11 of a highlighting target (traffic lights), asshown toward the left in the display apparatus 3 of FIG. 16A, anddisplays a frame S12 surrounding the image S11 so that the image S11 ishighlighted. Also, as shown toward the right in the display apparatus 3of FIG. 16A, the data of pixels around the image S21 of a highlightedtarget (road sign) is processed, and an enlarged image S22 of the image21 can be displayed. In addition, the display image highlighting circuit56, as shown in FIG. 16B, can increase the luminance of subpixels of aspecific color so as to highlight the specific color (for example, redor blue) in the display images S11, S21 of the highlighted target.

Further, the display image highlighting circuit 56, in a case whereapproximate image pickup data has been detected, causes the displayapparatus 3 to display, as a still image in a given time frame, an imageto be displayed based on the image pickup data in which the approximateimage pickup data is included. For example, the display image datagenerated by the data generation circuit 50 is recorded any time in avideo memory (not shown). When approximate image pickup data has thenbeen detected, the display image data to be sent to the displayapparatus 3 can be switched from the display image data generated anytime by the data generation circuit 50 to the display image datarecorded in the video memory (not shown). The display image highlightingcircuit 56 can highlight a specific image by an arbitrary method withoutbeing construed to be limitative thereto. By such highlighting, it ispossible to increase the visibility relative to a target with a strongneed to cause the vehicular driver M to recognize.

In FIG. 17, a cross-sectional view of one pixel of the organic ELdisplay panel 30 constituting the display apparatus 3 of the shadingdevice 1 is exemplified. On a flexible film 37 made of a resin or thelike, a switching element such as a TFT 38 is formed for each of the subpixels R, G, B, and, on a planarizing film 31 formed thereon, a firstelectrode (for example, anode) 32 is formed. The first electrode 32 isformed by a combination of a metal film such as Ag and an ITO film, andis connected to the switching element such as the TFT 38. Betweensubpixels, an insulation bank 33 made of SiO₂ is formed. In a regionsurrounded by the insulation bank 33, an organic layer 34 isvapor-deposited. Although in FIG. 17, the organic layer 34 is shown asone layer, the organic layer 34 can be actually formed of a plurality oflayers of laminate film that are made of different organic materials.

A second electrode (for example, cathode) 35 is formed byvapor-depositing Mg and Ag or Al or the like on the whole surface of theorganic layer 34. Further, on a surface of the second electrode 35, aprotective film 36 made of Si₃N₄, for example, is formed. The elementsshown in FIG. 17 are entirely sealed with a sealing layer made of aresin film (not shown) so that the organic layer 34 or the secondelectrode 35 does not absorb moisture or oxygen or the like. Across-sectional structure shown in FIG. 17 is merely provided as anexample, and the structure of the organic EL display panel 30constituting the display apparatus 3 and materials of the respectiveconstituent elements are not construed to be limitative to the structureand materials described here.

In the organic EL display panel 30 used in the shading device 1 of theembodiment, the first electrode 32 and the second electrode 35 areformed at substantially equal intervals in any of the respectivesubpixels R, G, B. In other words, the first electrode 32 and the secondelectrode 35 do not intentionally differentiate their intervals forsubpixels of each color. On the other hand, in the organic EL displaypanel in general, in order to increase the intensity of light radiatedin a perpendicular direction to a panel display surface, intervals ofthe anode and the cathode of each subpixel are made coincident with awavelength of light of a color emitted from such subpixel so that thelight emitted in the organic layer repeats reflection between the anodeand the cathode (micro-cavity structure). That is, in a general organicEL display panel, the intervals between the anode and the cathode aredifferent from each other for subpixel of each color.

On the contrary, in the shading device 1 of the embodiment, as describedpreviously, the display apparatus 3 is seen by the vehicular driver M atan arbitrary angle. Therefore, it is not so useful to increase theintensity of light radiated in the perpendicular direction to thedisplay surface of the display apparatus 3, and it is more important tomake angle-of-view dependencies of the respective colors R, G, Bcoincident with each other so that the chromaticity does not changegreatly even if the angle varies. Thus, the first electrode 32 and thesecond electrode 35 of the organic EL display panel 30 that is used inthe shading device 1 of the embodiment do not utilize the micro-cavityeffect, unlike the general organic EL display panel. For example, thefirst electrode 32 and the second electrode 35 can be spaced from eachother by a substantially same distance among the respective subpixels R,G, B. In other words, the intervals between the cathode and the anode ineach subpixel does not have to be coincident with a wavelength of lightemitted from the subpixel. That is, the organic EL display panel 30 cancomprise a plurality of subpixels, and each of the plurality ofsubpixels can comprise two electrodes disposed with a gap therebetween,the gap having a length, different from the wavelength of light emittedfrom each of the plurality of sub pixels.

In the foregoing embodiment, the shading device 1 of the embodiment hasbeen described by way of example of a case in which the shading deviceis used for the front windshield of the motor vehicle. However, it is tobe understood that the shading device 1 of the embodiment is notconstrued to be limitative to the front windshield, and is adaptable tothe rear windshield of a motor vehicle, a windshield of an arbitraryvehicle, or windshields of other arbitrary vehicles or an arbitrarybuilding, as described previously.

In FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, an image display module 11 of the firstembodiment of the present invention is shown. The image display module11, in a substantially similar manner to the shading device 1, isprovided with the constituent elements other than the shading member 2of the shading device 1 (see FIG. 2) of the first embodiment describedpreviously. That is, the image display module 11 is provided with adisplay apparatus 13 in which a display portion 13 a is to be disposedto be facing an operator M. The display apparatus 13 is disposed on asurface Xa that is facing the operator M during use thereof in a shadingdevice X that is not provided with a display apparatus or the like. Theshading device X is not provided with the display apparatus 3, the imagepickup device 4, or the data processing circuit 5 that is comprised inthe shading device 1 of the first embodiment described above and thus isprovided with only structures and functions equivalent to the shadingmember 2, and comprises a surface Xa that is facing the operator M whenin use. Further, the image display module 11 is provided with: an imagepickup device 14 that picks up, as an image, a region which an oppositesurface of the surface Xa of the shading device X faces, and thatgenerates image data; and a data processing circuit 15 that generatesdisplay image data to be displayed on the display portion 13 a duringuse of the shading device X, based on the image pickup data generated bythe image pickup device 14. According to the image display module 11 ofthe first embodiment, during use of the shading device X, a viewincluding a region that is obstructed by the shading device X can begrasped by the operator's eyes of the shading device X.

The display apparatus 13, like the display apparatus 3 of the shadingdevice 1 of the first embodiment, is preferably composed of an organicEL display panel or a liquid crystal display panel. The displayapparatus 13 is used to be attached to the surface Xa of the shadingdevice X during use of the shading device X. In FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, thedisplay apparatus 13 is bonded to, and is fixed to, using an adhesivesheet, for example, the surface Xa of the shading device X having acurved surface portion in the vicinity of an end edge. The displayapparatus 13 extends to the top of the curved surface part of thesurface Xa. Therefore, the display apparatus 13 has flexibility.However, the display apparatus 13 can have rigidity. As shown in FIG.19, the display apparatus 13 can be bonded to a supporting member 13 bso as to have a certain mechanical strength even when it is not attachedto the shading device X. The supporting member 13 b is formed of anarbitrary synthetic resin or the like.

The image pickup device 14 and the data processing circuit 15 can beconfigured similarly to the image pickup device 4 and the dataprocessing circuit 5 of the shading device 1 of the first embodiment. Asshown in FIG. 18, the image pickup device 14 is connected to the displayapparatus 13 (specifically the data processing circuit 15) in a wired orwireless manner. The image pickup device 14, unlike an example of FIG.18, can be fixed to the display apparatus 13 while an imaging lens facesopposite a surface that faces the operator M of the display apparatus13. The data processing circuit 15, in the example of FIG. 18, isprovided in the supporting member 13 b (in FIG. 18, the data processingcircuit 15 is conceptually shown in a rectangular shape as a functionalblock). The data processing circuit 15, unlike the example of FIG. 18,can be provided separately from the display apparatus 13.

Each of the display apparatus 13, the image pickup device 14, and thedata processing circuit 15 has features similar to those of the displayapparatus 3, the image pickup device 4, and the data processing circuit5 of the shading device 1 according to the first embodiment describedpreviously, and is similarly operable. The image display module 11, likethe shading device 1 of the first embodiment, can also be provided withfirst to third detectors. In addition, the data processing circuit 15,like the data processing circuit 5 of the shading device 1, can comprisea data generation circuit, an angle identification circuit, a datacorrection circuit, a display target data selection circuit, a memorycircuit, a comparison circuit, and a display image highlighting circuit.These constituent elements are operable similarly to the constituentelements of the shading device 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, afurther description of the constituent elements of the image displaymodule 11 of the first embodiment is not given here.

<Summary>

A shading device according to a first aspect of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising: a shading member, the shading member havinga plate shape; a display apparatus disposed on a surface of the shadingmember, the surface being to face an operator during use of the shadingmember, in such a manner that a display portion faces the operator; animage pickup device to pick up, as an image, a region which an oppositesurface of the surface faces, and generate image pickup data; and a dataprocessing circuit to generate, based on the image pickup data generatedby the image pickup device, display image data to be displayed on thedisplay portion during use of the shading member.

According to the configuration of the first aspect of the presentinvention, even if sunlight directly illuminates a room or the like, theglare thereof is reduced by the shading member and a view comprising aregion that is obstructed by the shading member can be grasped by theeyes of an operator of the shading device.

A shading device according to a second aspect of the present invention,in the first aspect, further comprises: a first detector to detect aposition of the shading member capable of rotating; and a seconddetector to detect a position of an eye of an operator of the shadingmember, and is characterized in that the data processing circuit furthercomprises: an angle identification circuit to identify an angle of thesurface of the shading member relative to a line of vision of theoperator facing the shading member, based on a result of detection ofthe first detector and a result of detection of the second detector; anda data correction circuit to correct the image pickup data based on adifference of an angle of the surface relative to a given referenceangle, and the data processing circuit can generate the display imagedata based on image pickup data corrected by the data correction circuitto cause the display apparatus to display a display image corrected fora difference of an angle of the surface relative to the given referenceangle.

According to the configuration of the second aspect of the presentinvention, even if a shading member is positioned to be inclinedrelative to the line of vision of an operator, it is possible to cause adisplay apparatus to display an image easily recognizable by theoperator.

In a shading device according to the third aspect of the presentinvention, in the second aspect, the data processing circuit furthercomprises a display target data selection circuit to determine a blindspot portion obstructed by the shading member in a field of vision of anoperator of the shading member, and select display target data among theimage pickup data, the display target data corresponding to the blindspot portion, and the data processing circuit can generate the displayimage data based on the display target data so as to cause the displayapparatus to display a view of the blind spot portion.

According to the configuration of the third aspect of the presentinvention, even in a case where a blind spot portion produced by ashading member varies with movement of an operator, it is possible tocause a display apparatus to display an image with less unnaturalfeeling for the operator.

A shading device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention,in the second or third aspect, can further comprise a control circuit tocontrol an ON/OFF state of the display apparatus based on a result ofdetection of the first detector.

According to the configuration of the fourth aspect of the presentinvention, an operator can cause a display apparatus to display an imageor stop the display merely by operating a shading member.

A shading device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention,in any one of the second to fourth aspects, further comprises a thirddetector to detect a position of the shading member, wherein the thirddetector is a detector that detects the position of the shading memberin a direction different from a direction of a position change of theshading member, wherein the position change of the shading member is achange being detectable with the first detector, and the control circuitcan control an ON/OFF state of the display apparatus based on results ofdetection of the first detector and the third detector.

According to the configuration of the fifth aspect of the invention, forexample, even if a shading member is positioned in a use position, in acase where a display portion of a display apparatus cannot face anoperator, the operator can stop display of the display apparatus merelyby operating the shading member.

In a shading device according to a sixth aspect of the presentinvention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the shading membercomprises a curved surface portion, and the display apparatus can beformed along a curved surface of the curved surface portion.

According to the configuration of the sixth aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to increase visibility in a case where anoperator sees a display portion of a display apparatus in an obliquedirection.

In a shading device according to a seventh aspect of the presentinvention, in the sixth aspect, the shading member comprises the curvedsurface portion at an edge oriented to an upper side and/or an edgeoriented to a lower side during use of the shading member, and thecurved surface portion can have a curvature radius of 5 mm or more and20 mm or less.

According to the configuration of the seventh aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to effectively increase visibility in a casewhere an operator sees a display portion of a display apparatus in anoblique direction.

In a shading device according to an eighth aspect of the presentinvention, in the sixth aspect, the entirety of the surface of theshading member is a curved surface, and the surface can have a curvatureradius of 50 mm or more and 250 mm or less.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possibleto effectively increase visibility in a case where an operator sees adisplay portion of a display apparatus in an oblique direction.

In a shading device according to a ninth aspect, in any one of the firstto eighth aspects, the display apparatus can be an organic EL displaypanel formed using a flexible film having a surface on which an organicmaterial has been laminated.

According to the configuration of the ninth aspect of the presentinvention, a degree of freedom in design of a surface shape of a shadingmember is increased making it possible to increase visibility in a casewhere an operator sees a display portion of a display apparatus in anoblique direction.

In a shading device according to a tenth aspect of the presentinvention, in the ninth aspect, the organic EL display panel comprises aplurality of subpixels, and each of the plurality of subpixels cancomprise two electrodes disposed with a gap therebetween, the gap havinga length different from a wavelength of light emitted from each of theplurality of subpixels.

According to the configuration of the tenth aspect of the presentinvention, an image can be displayed with uniform image quality over awide angular region relative to a display surface of a displayapparatus.

In a shading device according to an eleventh aspect of the presentinvention, in any one of the first to tenth aspects, the data processingcircuit can further have: a memory circuit to store reference datarelated to an appearance feature of a given target; a comparison circuitto compare the image pickup data and the reference data; and a displayimage highlighting circuit to process the display image data so as tohighlight a display image of the given target displayed on the displayapparatus more significantly than other display images.

According to the configuration of the eleventh aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to increase visibility relative to a targetwith a great need to cause an operator to recognize, and it is alsopossible to reduce oversight of such a target by the operator.

In a shading device according to a twelfth aspect of the presentinvention, in any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the shadingmember can comprise an infrared-ray reflective member on at least theopposite surface of the surface in the shading member.

According to the configuration of the twelfth aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to prevent deterioration of characteristics ofa display apparatus that is caused by heat.

In a shading device according to a thirteenth aspect of the presentinvention, in any one of the first to twelfth aspects, the image pickupdevice can comprise a lens having a surface on which a coating layer toreduce reflection of light by adjusting a refractive index is formed.

According to the configuration of the thirteenth aspect of the presentinvention, even in a case where imaging by an image pickup device isperformed against sunlight, an image with less flare or ghosting can bedisplayed on a display apparatus.

An image display module according to a fourteenth aspect of the presentinvention is characterized by comprising: a display apparatus to bedisposed on a surface of a shading device, the surface being to face anoperator during use of shading device, in such a manner that a displayportion faces the operator; an image pickup device to pick up, as animage, a region to which an opposite surface of the surface faces, andgenerates image pickup data; and a data processing circuit to generatedisplay image data to be displayed on the display portion during use ofthe shading device, based on the image pickup data generated by theimage pickup device.

According to the configuration of the fourteenth aspect of the presentinvention, even in a case where a shading device which does not comprisea display apparatus is used, a view comprising a region that isobstructed by the shading device can be grasped by an eye of an operatorof the shading device.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERAL

-   1 Shading device-   2 Shading member-   2 a Surface (first surface)-   2 b Opposite surface (second surface)-   3 Display apparatus-   3 a Display portion-   30 Organic EL display panel-   34 Organic layer-   37 Flexible film-   39 Second display apparatus-   4 Image pickup device-   4 a Coating layer-   41 Image pickup region-   42 Second image pickup device-   5 Data processing circuit-   50 Data generation circuit-   51 Angle identification circuit-   52 Data correction circuit-   53 Display target data selection circuit-   53 a Memory circuit-   54 Memory circuit-   54 a, 54 b Reference data-   6 First detector-   7 Control circuit-   8 Second detector-   8 a, 8 b Eye detection cameras-   9 Third detector-   11 Image display module-   13 Display apparatus-   14 Image pickup device-   15 Data processing circuit-   B Blind spot portion-   BA Actual blind spot portion-   BR Reference blind spot portion-   C Motor vehicle-   DR Reference display target region-   DA Actual display target region-   M Vehicular driver (operator)-   P0 Non-use position-   P1, P2 Use positions

What is claimed is:
 1. A shading device comprising: a shading member,the shading member having a plate shape; an organic-EL display paneldisposed on a surface of the shading member, the surface being to facean operator during use of the shading member, in such a manner that adisplay portion faces the operator; an image pickup device to pick up,as an image, a region which an opposite surface of the surface faces,and generate image pickup data; a data processing circuit to generatedisplay image data to be displayed on the display portion during use ofthe shading member, based on the image pickup data generated by theimage pickup device; a first detector to detect a position of theshading member capable of rotating; a second detector to detect aposition of an eye of the operator of the shading member; a thirddetector to detect a position of the shading member in a directiondifferent from a direction of a position change of the shading member,wherein the position change of the shading member is a change beingdetectable with the first detector; and a control circuit to control anON/OFF state of the organic-EL display panel, wherein the shading membercomprises an infrared-ray reflective member at least on the oppositesurface of the surface in the shading member, the infrared-rayreflective member to prevent a temperature increase of the organic-ELdisplay panel; the data processing circuit further comprises a displaytarget data selection circuit to determine a blind spot portionobstructed by the shading member in a field of vision of the operator ofthe shading member, and select display target data among the imagepickup data, the display target data corresponding to the blind spotportion; the data processing circuit generates the display image databased on the display target data so as to cause the organic-EL displaypanel to display a view of the blind spot portion; and the controlcircuit controls an ON/OFF state of the organic-EL display panel basedon a result of detection of the first detector and based on results ofdetection of the first detector and the third detector.
 2. The shadingdevice according to claim 1, wherein the second detector is configuredto be capable of switching a position to be handled as the position ofthe eye of the operator between a midpoint of both eyes of the operatorand a position of either one of the left and right eyes of the operator.3. The shading device according to claim 1, wherein the organic-ELdisplay panel comprises a plurality of subpixels, each one of theplurality of subpixels comprising a cathode and an anode; and thecathode and the anode are disposed with a gap between the cathode andthe anode, the gap having a length different from a wavelength of lightemitted from each one of the plurality of subpixels so that amicro-cavity effect is not utilized at each one of the plurality ofsubpixels.
 4. The shading device according to claim 1, wherein the firstdetector is an angle sensor being disposed around a member to be an axisof a rotation of the shading member.
 5. The shading device according toclaim 1, wherein the first detector is a magnetic sensor to move,concurrently with a rotation of the shading member, in a magnetic fieldproduced by a magnet being disposed at a position proximal to theshading member during use of or during non-use of the shading member,the magnetic sensor being provided to the shading member.
 6. The shadingdevice according to claim 1, wherein the second detector comprises twocameras to shoot the operator and specifies a position of at least oneof both eyes of the operator based on a position of each of the twocameras and images acquired by the two cameras.
 7. A shading devicecomprising: a shading member, the shading member having a plate shape;an organic-EL display panel disposed on a surface of the shading member,the surface being to face an operator during use of the shading member,in such a manner that a display portion faces the operator; an imagepickup device to pick up, as an image, a region which an oppositesurface of the surface faces, and generate image pickup data; a dataprocessing circuit to generate display image data to be displayed on thedisplay portion during use of the shading member, based on the imagepickup data generated by the image pickup device; a first detector todetect a position of the shading member capable of rotating; and asecond detector to detect a position of an eye of the operator of theshading member, wherein the shading member comprises an infrared-rayreflective member at least on the opposite surface of the surface in theshading member, the infrared-ray reflective member to prevent atemperature increase of the organic-EL display panel; the dataprocessing circuit further comprises a display target data selectioncircuit to determine a blind spot portion obstructed by the shadingmember in a field of vision of the operator of the shading member, andselect display target data among the image pickup data, the displaytarget data corresponding to the blind spot portion; the data processingcircuit generates the display image data based on the display targetdata so as to cause the organic-EL display panel to display a view ofthe blind spot portion; and the second detector is configured to becapable of switching a position to be handled as the position of the eyeof the operator between a midpoint of both eyes of the operator and aposition of either one of the left and right eyes of the operator. 8.The shading device according to claim 7, further comprising a thirddetector to detect a position of the shading member, and a controlcircuit to control an ON/OFF state of the organic-EL display panelwherein the third detector is a detector to detect a position of theshading member in a direction different from a direction of a positionchange of the shading member, wherein the position change of the shadingmember is a change being detectable with the first detector; and thecontrol circuit controls the ON/OFF state of the organic-EL displaypanel based on results of detection of the first detector and the thirddetector.
 9. The shading device according to claim 7, wherein theorganic-EL display panel comprises a plurality of subpixels, each one ofthe plurality of subpixels comprising a cathode and an anode; and thecathode and the anode are disposed with a gap between the cathode andthe anode, the gap having a length different from a wavelength of lightemitted from each one of the plurality of subpixels so that amicro-cavity effect is not utilized at each one of the plurality ofsubpixels.
 10. The shading device according to claim 7, wherein thefirst detector is an angle sensor being disposed around a member to bean axis of a rotation of the shading member.
 11. The shading deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the first detector is a magnetic sensor tomove, concurrently with a rotation of the shading member, in a magneticfield produced by a magnet being disposed at a position proximal to theshading member during use of or during non-use of the shading member,the magnetic sensor being provided to the shading member.
 12. Theshading device according to claim 7, wherein the second detectorcomprises two cameras to shoot the operator and specifies a position ofat least one of both eyes of the operator based on a position of each ofthe two cameras and images acquired by the two cameras.
 13. A shadingdevice comprising: a shading member, the shading member having a plateshape; an organic-EL display panel disposed on a surface of the shadingmember, the surface being to face an operator during use of the shadingmember; and an image pickup device to pick up, as an image, a regionwhich an opposite surface of the surface faces, and generate imagepickup data, wherein the organic-EL display panel displays, thereon, animage based on the image pickup data; the organic-EL display panelcomprises a plurality of subpixels, each one of the plurality ofsubpixels comprising a cathode and an anode; and the cathode and theanode are disposed with a gap between the cathode and the anode, the gaphaving a length different from a wavelength of light emitted from eachone of the plurality of subpixels so that a micro-cavity effect is notutilized in each one of the plurality of subpixels.
 14. The shadingdevice according to claim 13, further comprising: a first detector todetect a position of the shading member capable of rotating; a seconddetector to detect a position of an eye of the operator of the shadingmember; and a data processing circuit to generate display image data tobe displayed on the organic-EL display panel during use of the shadingmember, based on the image pickup data generated by the image pickupdevice, wherein the data processing circuit further comprises a displaytarget data selection circuit to determine a blind spot portionobstructed by the shading member in a field of vision of the operator ofthe shading member, and select display target data among the imagepickup data, the display target data corresponding to the blind spotportion; and the data processing circuit generates the display imagedata based on the display target data so as to cause the organic-ELdisplay panel to display a view of the blind spot portion.
 15. Theshading device according to claim 14, further comprising: a controlcircuit to control an ON/OFF state of the organic-EL display panel basedon a result of detection of the first detector.
 16. The shading deviceaccording to claim 15, further comprising: a third detector to detect aposition of the shading member, wherein the third detector is a detectorto detect the position of the shading member in a direction differentfrom a direction of a position change of the shading member, wherein theposition change of the shading member is a change being detectable withthe first detector; and the control circuit controls the ON/OFF state ofthe organic-EL display panel based on results of detection of the firstdetector and the third detector.
 17. The shading device according toclaim 14, wherein the first detector is an angle sensor being disposedaround a member to be an axis of a rotation of the shading member. 18.The shading device according to claim 14, wherein the first detector isa magnetic sensor to move, concurrently with a rotation of the shadingmember, in a magnetic field produced by a magnet being disposed at aposition proximal to the shading member during use of or during non-useof the shading member, the magnetic sensor being provided to the shadingmember.
 19. The shading device according to claim 14, wherein the seconddetector comprises two cameras to shoot the operator and specifies aposition of at least one of both eyes of the operator based on aposition of each of the two cameras and images acquired by the twocameras.
 20. The shading device according to claim 14, wherein thesecond detector is configured to be capable of switching a position tobe handled as the position of the eye of the operator between a midpointof both eyes of the operator and a position of either one of the leftand right eyes of the operator.